This is an abridged version of our report ‘Towards a safe and healthy future of work’. It looks ahead to possible scenarios and asks how we might shape work in the future.

We begin to explore what some of these questions will mean for us. No consideration of the future of work can avoid close attention to technology. But there are vital political, economic, social, environmental and ethical issues too.

We hope that the questions we ask are provocative and make a constructive contribution to an increasingly pressing topic.

Political and social issues

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  What if deregulation leads to a reduction in OSH standards and makes it more difficult for OSH professionals to influence decisions?What if deregulation leads to a reduction in OSH standards and makes it more difficult for OSH professionals to influence decisions?
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  What if there is no dividing line between occupational and clinical health? What if there is no dividing line between occupational and clinical health?
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  What if key industries are not equipped to meet the needs of all generations of workers?What if key industries are not equipped to meet the needs of all generations of workers?
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  What if psychological injuries and mental health are regulated the same as physical injuries?What if psychological injuries and mental health are regulated the same as physical injuries?
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  What if safety and health improvements lead to greater social equity and fairness?What if safety and health improvements lead to greater social equity and fairness?
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  What if the green transition isn’t just, fair and equal for all workers?What if the green transition isn’t just, fair and equal for all workers?

Economic/environmental issues

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  What if extreme global warming leads to significant increases in workers’ occupational risks and vulnerability?What if extreme global warming leads to significant increases in workers’ occupational risks and vulnerability?
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  What if there is another global pandemic more harmful to health than COVID-19? What if there is another global pandemic more harmful to health than COVID-19?
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  What if gig work overtakes secure employment as the most common form of primary income?What if gig work overtakes secure employment as the most common form of primary income?

Technological issues

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  What if technologies inform an employer of a health condition before the worker? What if technologies inform an employer of a health condition before the worker?
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  What if the application of new technologies to improve worker protection creates other health, safety and wellbeing risks? What if the application of new technologies to improve worker protection creates other health, safety and wellbeing risks?

Challenges to key stakeholders

If we agree that we want to be part of the solution to these important questions, what should be the responses of governments, businesses and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals? At the end of this report we lay down some challenges.